put a glide in your stride and a dip in your hip

[glowsferatu]

WHO: Non-human imPorts!
WHERE: Nonah imPort Center
WHEN: Saturday, September 3rd
WHAT: Kanaya invited a bunch of other non-humans together for a gathering. She's not calling it a support group, but let's be real, it's basically a support group. Promises of ice cream were not exaggerated. Feel free to handwave any invitations, if she hasn't icly spoken to your character about it! More info available here.
WARNINGS: None

By the time guests begin to arrive, Kanaya has the hall set up to be as welcoming as she can make it. There are a couple of tables set with refreshments, mainly a choice between a vegan casserole and pizza, but with muffins, alongside chips and homemade salsa as well. They are probably not the right chips for salsa, don't ask Kanaya, she doesn't eat. The showcase, though, is a soft serve machine with a table full of toppings, just begging your sweet tooth to indulge.

She's set up the chairs in a very telling circle, and she's constantly going back and forth as people arrive to make sure there are enough, or not too much. By the time everyone's had the chance with the refreshments, she gently herds them over to sit down so she can get started.

"Well! I'm glad to see everyone here today, I hope you've all been well. Since this is only the first time we're gathering like this, I think it would be best to begin by introducing ourselves. So, we can go around the room and everyone can tell us their name and a little about themselves. Tell us about your world or culture, where you came from, and how it's different from what we've had to acclimate to here!"

She looks over to the person sitting on her right, with an expectant smile.

[ Feel free to have your characters talk about themselves in your starters! Obviously, open mingling is also cool. Just have fun! ]

Comments

open

[ofgoldenfoil]

a. circle
Aurican looks like a young blonde boy, wearing clothes that only a fussy mother would force him to wear. His prim and proper tone, along with his very varied vocabulary, gives the impression of a boy trying to be older than he actually is.

However, that's not the case with Aurican. It's just how he is.

"My name is Aurican. I am a dragon. I lived in a grotto with my nestmates, but I have never tried to left it, so I do not know the world beyond it. I have twelve nestmates in all."

He pauses for a moment, trying to think of something else that is interesting. "The most different, I think, is to learn how different bodies adapt. I thought human bodies are weak at first, but now I see there are different strengths. Just different in that you don't recognize them immediately."

b. dangers of cold foods

Aurican is going to learn the magic that is brain freeze. He eats an entire serving, cone and all -

"Ah!" He clenches his head, cringing. It's like being hit in the face by Darlantan's icy breath, but on the inside of his skull.

c. wildcard

[ ooc note: whatever you heart's desire ]

a!

[glowsferatu]

As a fussy mother herself, Kanaya can appreciate his wardrobe. Wouldn't want him wandering out in a bulky sweater while summer's still going through its last gasps! Who knows how well dragons who are now little boys even handle heat?

She listens intently as he speaks, only breaking in when he's finished with a question. "What sort of different strengths have stood out to you? I'm sure being a human must have quite a few to them from a dragon. I had to acclimate to that change once, myself, but I don't imagine it was nearly so extreme."

b!

[beneathbluerafters]

Klarion nods gravely, a wise, grizzled veteran of the ice cream wars who has come face to face with a naive new recruit.

"It does that sometimes, if you eat too quickly. Try placing your tongue against the roof of your mouth for a few seconds, sometimes that helps."

open!

[glowsferatu]

a. in the circle

[ By the time everyone else is finished, it's Kanaya's turn. She probably should have gone first, to set the tone, but she'd rather hear from everyone else first. She didn't want to take too much time on her own, after all. ]

So, some of you have already heard my story, and I don't want to bore you by repeating too much. My name is Kanaya Maryam, and I'm a jadeblooded troll from the planet Alternia. [ Gesturing to the seat on her left, its grubby occupant clicking and preening. ] This is my daughter, Ashiah. She's a larval Mother Grub from the same planet, though it was already gone by the time she hatched.

Alternia was... Well, we weren't a very nice people. Intergalactic conquerors and tyrants, really. The strong preyed on the weak, and for those of us below the more aristocratic castes, it was really all we could do simply to survive. Or, to help others survive, if that was within our abilities.

Jadebloods like me were a caste of midwives, we were raised to serve the Mother Grubs, in their brooding caverns deep underground. Perhaps it was a means of control, not only to accommodate the hatching of our young, but to keep those of us who thrived in sunlight away from it. When you have a subset of your population that is known to manifest vampirism, perhaps it is one's imperative to see them reined.

But that was never going to be my fate. I had visions, when I was younger, dreams of the future. I knew our world as ending. My purpose was to ensure our future. The Mother Grub I would serve is this little one here. [ She boops Ashiah's nose, leading her to blink and trill, wiggling a little as she adjusts in her ill-fitting seat. There's a lot left out, especially the long history of how she got from being a 13-year-old girl in the desert to the young woman she is today, or even what the deal is with Mother Grubs. But hey, if someone wants the answers, they can always ask. ]

b. the wrong liquid refreshment

[ Kanaya avoids most of the refreshments, they aren't here for here to enjoy, it was more of a courtesy to the others. The soft serve machine, though, that's a different story. She forgoes the cones for a bowl instead, serving herself a modest of ice cream, and bringing it up to her nose to sniff at it. It won't be enough, and she already knew that going in.

So, she pulls a flash out of her purse, and generously adds blood. It might as well be soup by that point, but it's just perfect for her. The iron smell in the air may disagree with everyone else, unfortunately. ]

c. fat babygrub option

[ There is nothing easy about chairs when you're a three-foot long moth larva. They just aren't shaped for you, and Ashiah fidgets plenty to try to find a comfortable position. Early on, this mostly involves climbing up the back, but as the weight shifts, and the chair threatens to topple over, she decides that maybe that isn't a very good idea. Her mother told her to try to be good as she mingles about, but it's so hard when this dumb chair is the wrong shape. Hanging her head of the front just makes her feel dizzy, and she elects against that, as well.

Eventually, after much struggling, she finally finds a position that almost works, but it means hanging her butt off the hole in the back. She doesn't quite realize it yet, but she might just be stuck. Luckily, Kanaya brings her some ice cream, so the discovery will be delayed as she extends her proboscis past her lips to suck up her vanilla soft serve. ]

c, babylarva, double teaming you with threads b/c I had a great idea

[helpline]

[ The Doctor's been watching this whole display with a small frown on his face as he watches Ashiah attempt to battle the ill-designed nature of baby chairs. Eventually, he's made up his mind about something as he walks over to the two, giving them both a small nod. ]

I speak baby, you know, [ said entirely without context but also entirely 100% serious. ] Granted, I'm best at human baby, but I know enough species dialects that I might be able to piece out Alternian baby if you want me to give it a go.

[ All of this is basically a round-about way for the Doctor to say "hey, want me to gossip with your baby?" ]

b; 15 years late with starbucks

[gainedlove]

[* ...uh.]
[* That's...blood, isn't it?]
[* But it's light out?]

[Frisk blinks owlishly up at Kanaya as she douses her ice cream in a red Frisk is...not used to seeing come out of something not them. The cone in their hands is nearly forgotten, and one paw-like foot scuffs against the ground nervously.]

[* (Didn't she say somethin' about vampires in the circle?)]

[* I didn't think she meant it for real!]

You...um. You can't have anythin' else?

ota!

[dualismum]

Arrival aka there is food
[ Sasaki is more than glad to come to this meeting, if only yo help setting things up. While Kaneki has plenty of it - and so much ice creams - Sasaki decides to bring along cakes and cupcakes that he baked the day before; hopefully they'd be enough for everyone.

Once he arrives, the first thing he does is, of course, move towards the table to set the pastries and cut them into several smaller pieces so everyone could have a bit. Though his diet would never allow him to indulge in it, the cakes are chocolate, strawberry and banana and there are no... weird ingredients added to them, obviously.

And once he is done, he steps back, hands on his waist. he looks satisfied too.

yes, Sassan loves to cook and bake ]


Circle
[ this is the hardest part. While everyone is talking about their species, Sasaki doesn't feel comfortable talking about his own for the biggest reason of them all: he is a cannibal. When it's his turn, he definitively looks SO out of place and he doesn't know how to star. ]

I'm... half human. [ and he was about to add "i'm also legally human", but let's be honest here, he isn't all that sure how that would apply here. ]

In my version of Earth, there is another sapient species besides humans; they are called Ghouls. Though Ghouls look like humans, they have different organs, different physiology and biology, and they can only subside on human or ghoul flesh. [ yeah. That part. He goes silent for a bit, not sure if he should just get some space between everyone right about now, but it's not as if people are humans here. ]

Ghouls aren't... seen as people. They don't have the right to live. Because they only eat humans, they are seen as monsters and they have to be killed, and in return, because a ghoul can on subside on humans, they often see them like the way humans see fish or cows. [ it's cruel. The whole thing. he has FEELINGS about that, but he doesn't think it's the place ]

Anyway, I was born as a human, but someone transferred ghoul organs onto me so I became a... [ a fucked up thing. Sasaki shakes his head ] an artificial half-ghoul. I have a ghoul's diet, I have a ghoul's organs, I have a lot of their characteristics. But in my world, I am considered human as long as I work for a committee called CCG, neutralizing other ghouls. [ killing, he means killing. ]

I'm not sure what I'm considered, here. [ and honestly? that will be all. he already said a lot ]


Coffee option
[ there is this thing about admitting to a lot of other people that you are a semi-monster thing that eats people, which doesn't fit Sasaki at all. kaneki said it so easily, but Sasaki has so many issues with it. Still he manages to sit through it without actually getting up and leaving like he usually does whenever the subject touches Sasaki's inhuman nature, but when he can, he moves to grab a cup of coffee.

Well, anyway, he will survive.

but for that he needs something to ease his tongue and iced coffee is the best choice, of course. So once he has it in his hand, he takes a long sip and sighs. Yes, he needed that ]

coffee

[glowsferatu]

[ It's after the group's broken up to mingle that Kanaya approaches Sasaki, getting her own cup of coffee, stirring in sugar and blood. Does the sugar even change anything? Who knows. ]

Sorry about the food. I would've liked to arrange a bit more of an...inclusive spread, but some things just aren't as easily done.

How are you feeling?

Food

[dumbfound]

[ No amount of inability to eat food is going to stop Junseo from being able to appreciate how good food looks, and the minute those pastries are laid out on the table he's sadly coming to hover over them. Those look fancy... Junseo can't even remember the last time he had strawberry cake, even before he lost his ability to eat it.

That looks so good... maybe a bite--

But as soon as the thought flits through his mind he gets a whiff of the food and his stomach does an uncomfortable flip to tell him anything he tries to put down his throat is immediately getting spat back up. ]

Those look really good...

[ He sounds so sad when he says it.

For a kid that had eating on the his top five list of things he loved in life? This is a hard loss on him. ]

food

[leonized]

[Leon watches him set up the food and cut it carefully, and then ... not eat it. He hadn't know that Sasaki wasn't human, so he was admittedly a little surprised to see him here. But then again, most people assumed he was human, too, so maybe he shouldn't be too surprised.]

Are you going to eat anything?

[23wishes]

Food.
[She had been so confident about this before. She'd bounced around Kanaya excitedly for weeks before this meeting. Finally, all of the other nonhuman imPorts would get together. She'd meet so many new people--

But now that she's here, she's worried. There's no singular source to her worries and fears, and that makes it hard to handle.

For now, she'll be hovering around the table gathering refreshments and being the kind of nerdy wallflower you'd see at a party.]

Circle.
[Count Aerith as one of those here who's less than comfortable. It's obvious down to her posture and the hesitation in her voice as she answers.]

Um. Well, full disclosure, I'm half human. My father was. My mother and I are Cetra. We were the last ones. They're an ancient race that predates humans on my world. My mother would tell me that the Cetra were born from the planet, speak from the planet, and unlock the planet. We were born to protect our world and had powers to do that. Some Cetra got tired of the work and when they settled down, they lost their powers and became humans. This was two thousand years ago.

We-- They-- [She falters here, looking unsettled.] There was a virus that wiped most of the Cetra out back then. Their numbers dwindled until there was just my mom. And then me.

[Her voice lowers.]

I don't really know what the Cetra were like. My mom died when I was little and I'd pretend to be a human, because being an ancient meant-- [Things she doesn't like to talk about. She'll leave that subject there unless someone prods her about it.]

I look human, but that doesn't mean I am. Sometimes I worry people won't believe me, like that person on the network once. For so long, I didn't want to be different, but now... There's so many of us.

food!

[helpline]

[ The Doctor's going to crush that nerdy wallflowerness with sheer gregariousness. When he spots Aerith, he walks right over to her, chips in hand, as he offers her the bag.

Aerith's obviously a bit worried. The least he can do is give her a familiar face. ]

Care for a crisp?

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya's keeping busy, flittering her way around the room to make sure everyone's comfortable, when she notices Aerith. Striding over, she leans against the table next to her. ]

So? Have you become shy then, all of a sudden?

circle

[thelimitdoesnotexist]

[He feels guilt for almost not believing her that one time. But now hearing the whole of her story...it's so familiar. Familiar though different, he really gets what they both had alluded to all this time. Mewtwo tries his best to be gentle approaching the subject.]

you never got the chance to see what they were like.

and even though you didn't know...you had to hide all this time.

ota

[monge]

A. Surprise, Komasan likes ice cream

[Komasan was pretty excited to hang around a bunch of nonhuman people for a day, it'd be a nice change of of pace from all the usual "what are you"s and "you can talk?!"s among other questions he usually gets when he's trying to make friends. If everyone is weird, then no one will think he's weird! ...That's his logic anyway.

That's exactly why when the day finally comes along, he's...in human form...?

No wait, there's actually a reason. Komasan positions himself under the soft serve machine, crouching down under the dispenser and just letting ice cream...pour into his mouth. See, he can't do this with his shorter limbs, it's much easier to drink the machine clean when he can actually reach the lever.

The brain freeze will kick in eventually. Either that, or he'll choke. All I'm saying is sooner or later he's going to realize it's a bad idea.]

B. Circle

[By circle time, Komasan's already back in his usual komainu form, sitting on a chair much too large for him as he kicks his little feet over the edge idly. For the first story, he's pretty patient, but the way he starts to glance around near the end easily spells out what's about to happen.

Komasan's short attention span starts to get the better of him. You'd think for a guy who sat in one spot for several years, he'd be able to handle something like this, but no. Completely zoning out, he starts staring at whatever catches his attention. First it's his toes for awhile, then back at the snacks. Sometimes he even just sorta stares at people, unaware of how rude he's being right now.

Eventually it gets to the point where he's standing on his chair, rocking it back and forth as he leans against the back rest. This can only go on for so long before it finally crashes to the ground, Komasan tumbling with it.]

M-MONGE!!

[The timing for this blunder is oddly perfect, because it appears to be Komasan's turn now. His chair now on the floor, he just sorta lies there with his butt in the air, unsure how to start.]

O-Oh, um, I'm just Komasan, zura.

[Okay, so far so good. When it becomes apparent to him that maybe that might not be enough, he sits himself up, paws held in his lap.]

I'm...a-ah...a youkai, zura. [A pause.] A lot of people ask me what that is, and I always kinda tell them it's...it's like a ghost, zura. But...it's not really either, youkai are just youkai, so it's hard to make them understand, zura.

[It's not something he's used to, actually. Even humans who've never met youkai knew what they were, at least back home.]

Some youkai used to be human, so saying they're ghosts gives 'em an idea, zura... I'm, um, I'm a komainu, so I'm not...really like that, zura.

I just live in the human world, I, uh, used to guard my shrine until the "construction" happened, zura... Me and my little brother, ah...K-Komajiro, we moved into a house near the city, zura. B-But my Momma still lives in Youkai World, I write to her all the time, zura.

A lot of youkai stay in the human world, a-actually, zura... Humans can't...they don't normally see us, zura. So the other youkai...they used their powers to play tricks on humans, zura. Like when...you know when you get really really monge~ angry for no good reason, zura? That's usually a youkai, z-zura...

I'm not so good at that stuff, mean youkai like to pick on me, zura. T-That's why I like living with the humans, I would wear a disguise so I could get jobs and make money a-and I could buy groceries, zura!

A

[burnseternal]

[Saint Walker is an adult. He is an adult, and father, and a man who is well accustomed to the sort of responsibility that leads up to leading an entire village or, perhaps, leading an intergalactic peacekeeping force. That should come with a certain willingness to ensure that everyone behaves themselves, or at least does not directly harm themselves, as Komasan looks like he may.

Instead, he takes a bowl of the toppings and starts throwing them into Komasan's mouth along with the ice cream, just to see what he does.]

You are missing half of the experience, my friend!

OTA

[thelimitdoesnotexist]

A. Food Time

[When he heard about this, he trusted Kanaya with this kind of arrangement. She always seemed to understand better than others.

Mewtwo has been out as himself for awhile now. Not as a human proxy, not as just some text, but as himself. He even appeared on the TV, right? But even so, he always has that apprehension coming to gatherings like these. It's like exposing himself all over again.

He doesn't need to make himself look meek and scared. Mewtwo needs only to look airy and distant while hanging around the table, his mind picking at a floating muffin. Just like any mysterious legendary would do.]

B. Circle

[He's among friends now. Or at least beings who can understand his plight. He only needs to tell himself that.

Even so, when it comes his turn to share, he feels reluctant to share at first. This is the biggest group of people he's actually shared anything about himself. Since he barely knows what he is in the first place, since the very means of him coming into being carries some hard feelings.

He's here. And he can't disappear. And he's been sitting silently for far too long. He holds his communicator to the group to help aid his story time.]

I come from a world where all non-human life is called Pokemon. they are all the same species but come with different forms and abilities. some can produce electricity. others can create massive waves. there are hundreds of different kinds. in this world humans capture Pokemon to train them for battle or amusement.

I am like these Pokemon and yet I am not.

there are some Pokemon that are more rare than others. they can are hardly seen by other Pokemon or humans so many think they do not exist. they are like the cryptids in your world.

there is a Pokemon named Mew who possessed great power and lived further back many other Pokemon.

[Thinking about it brings back all those memories. They were never buried, but thinking about them makes him feel extra raw. He'll continue for his own sake.]

I am the clone of Mew. Mewtwo. humans used Mew genes to create me. they wanted a Pokemon that could win any battle. a Pokemon with intelligence and power.

[He momentarily switches to telepathic speak ]

< That is why I cannot speak like you do. >

I left the lab that created me. [Destroyed. You destroyed it.] alone I was taken in by other Pokemon.

other than that I am on my own. I'm a clone of species I have never seen with my own eyes.

post circle!

[helpline]

[ A hybrid. A combination of two species, cloned from a Mew, raised by humans. The worry about the hybrid in his universe still preys on the Doctor's mind even now, even in a different universe. The hybrid was destined to destroy Gallifrey, a worry that transcends universes, a worry that he still has even though Gallifrey isn't here.

So it's after the circle that the Doctor approaches Mewtwo, giving him a small nod as he approaches. He can't help but ask, ]

I have a few questions, if you don't mind. [ and, since he knows the creature is telepathic, ] My race is telepathic as well. If you want, I can open up a telepathic channel. Might make things easier.

open!

[helpline]

one: food!
[ Yeah those chips aren't tortilla chips in the slightest. The Doctor brought the chips and they're all rather...unique flavors, ranging from chicken tikka masala to watercress. There aren't any regular potato chips among the lot. The Doctor's commandeered an entire bag of prawn cocktail flavored chips and is happily munching on them throughout the arrival session. Granted, that's entirely at odds with his attire: the Doctor's wearing a dark purple velvet dinner jacket, over a white shirt and black slacks.

Approaching someone, the Doctor offers them the bag of chips. ]

You can only have a couple, you know. Prawn cocktail's the best flavor so I'm eating most of the bag.

two: in the circle
[ When it's his turn, the Doctor gives a little nod before he starts talking. ]

I'm the Doctor. First name the, last name Doctor. I'm a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. With Time Lords, we can do this trick called regeneration. Instead of dying, we change our body—same Doctor, new face. Some of you've met previous Doctors during their stay here. [ the Doctor pauses and pops a chip in his mouth, before he continues. ]

I suppose one of the things that differs us from humans is that I'm old. Really old, we're talking around two thousand years or so old. Time Lords are also different about time. You know how when there's about to be a big storm and all the animals freak out? That's me. When there's a disruption in time, or a paradox, or something of that nature, it just doesn't feel right. It's up to me to help fix it.

As for Gallifrey, Gallifrey's nice. [ and that's all he says about Gallifrey, just that it's nice. Feel free to bother him more about the planet but right now, the Doctor's intent on rummaging around that mostly eaten chips bag to find one that's in relatively one piece. ]

food!

[burnseternal]

I'm fairly certain that I cannot eat them anyway, [he says, pleasantly enough, though he's sure that the Doctor knows that and was simply offering them to the room as a whole. He smiles at him, though, openly amused by the man's familiar antics.] You do realize that we were supposed to bring food for the entire room, correct? You'd best be careful, lest you face our lovely hostess' wrath.

ota

[leonized]

food

[Leon didn't know what this was for until he arrived. Junseo had just shown up at Maurtia Falls 005 and told him they were going to a party for people like him, and Leon had (foolishly) gone along with it without much thought. Maybe it was because he was a little bit weak to Junseo? Who really knew.

Either way, he didn't care too much for most of the food here, but the soft serve is definitely tempting. Tempting enough that he's piling a bowl of soft serve with nearly every topping on the table, even the ones that might not go terribly well together. What can he say? He has a bit of a sweet tooth, and this was a better way to occupy himself than talking.

He still has his glamor up, so he probably just looks like another human with a funny hair color. Why is he here...?]

circle

[Leon looks hesitant when it's his turn, and it takes him a short while before he speaks.]

Um ... hi. I'm Leon Camillia. I'm from a city called Leek City and it's underwater. Oh, right—

[He lets his glamor drop, revealing the most glaringly nonhuman thing about him— his pointy ears.]

— I'm a fairy, but only one person here in this world knew that until right now. I guess I thought it'd be easier to just fake being human while I was here. I didn't actually know this was happening until that person told me, and I didn't know what it was, either. So I don't really know what else to say...

[He trails off, looking at the ground instead of at his fellow nonhumans.]

circle

[glowsferatu]

Oh. [ A fairy? Well, that's... ] Oh! Wow.

[ She thinks back to their first conversation, at Fanport, and feels a little embarrassed. Of all the things to be guilty of, preaching to the choir is one she never wanted. But, this means something else, too, something this whole group was put together to accomplish. Someone actually felt comfortable enough to reveal themselves as they hadn't before. That's exactly what she'd hoped for.

She turns that frown upside down. ]

Well! We're glad you decided to join us tonight! What was Leek City like? I mean, I've heard things about fairies, but... The things one hears rarely coincide with the fact, when it comes to light. You lived underwater?

[ Maybe it was an underwater forest, she has no idea. She's never properly met a fairy before. ]

ota!

[beneathbluerafters]

Food!

[ Klarion hadn't really intended to check out the support group. He was secure enough in himself not to need any support, but he'd just happened to be exploring Nonah around the right time... and when Teekl had climbed up a tree to spy on the meeting-in-progress, and spotted the snack table through a window (not to mention the promised soft-served ice cream!), he'd decided to at least check the place out.

... So yeah, Klarion's holed up by the ice cream machine, making a cone that could rival the Eiffel Tower in height, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in stability. Teekl is perched on his shoulders, and anyone passing by will no doubt hear Klarion in the middle of a one-sided argument with the cat about getting fur in the ice cream. ]

Circle

[ Klarion doesn't speak up until he's actually prompted to. If he had his way, he wouldn't speak up at all, but the alternative seems to be the mother of all awkward silences. With his ramrod-straight posture, closed off body language, and the big furry cat in his lap, he looks a bit like a tiny blue Bond villain. ]

Klarion Bleak, and this is Teekl. I'm a witch-boy, and he is my Draaga. It's like a familiar, but moreso. We hail from Limbo Town, a village of witches deep below Manhattan - not this world's Manhattan, I checked - and from what I understand, it's several hundred years behind the surface world in terms of modernity. I left home a few years ago by this point, but Blue Rafters still makes very little sense.

My people have both human and otherworldly Sheeda ancestry. I don't suppose that means much here.

circle

[glowsferatu]

[ Well, she isn't going to fault him for all that ice cream he ate earlier, though she certainly hopes it doesn't give him a stomach ache. She supposes her bigger worry is all the unfamiliar terminology. ]

I hope you'll forgive me if this sounds ignorant, but what are Blue Rafters, exactly?

OTA!

[burnseternal]

[ a ; the circle! ]

[Saint Walker is not the first to speak, nor is he the last, but any watchful eyes would be able to see that he's been paying extremely close attention to the proceedings, his large, dark eyes looking at nothing but the speaker with the sort of intentness that one would only give something of the utmost importance. But to Saint Walker, what everyone has to say is important. He is learning about others, after all.

But then it comes to himself, which is a far less interesting topic. He smiles at everyone warmly, hands still resting on the knees of his crossed legs (which looks rather silly on the chair he's on, but he's never been opposed to looking a little foolish) and speaks, his voice surprisingly deep and soft, a quietly respectable timbre to it.]

It is very nice to meet you all! And it has been very interesting hearing of your stories and of your homes as well. Thank you for sharing them, those of you who have, and to those that haven't, I very much look forward to hearing of your homes.

I am Saint Walker, and yes, Saint is a title, and no, it does not mean the same thing as it does on Earth, [he says with a musical sort of chuckle, completely lacking in any sign of self-consciousness whatsoever.] On the planet that I was born, the planet of Astonian, Saints are present to provide guidance to whoever requires it, to answer questions that need answers, and if no answer makes itself apparent, simply to listen.

Astonia was a place in the furthest reaches of the galaxy away from Earth and we lived simply and humbly alongside natural, and maintained an ethos based around peace and cooperation. It was a fine place to live. I am sure that many of you would have liked it very much.

[All of that is in the past tense for a reason, but Saint Walker doesn't intend to bring down the group by telling them why. Rather, he leaves it up to them -- should they ask, he will speak. If not, he is just as happy to tell them of the good memories he has there, or to ask questions about his extremely alien appearance among others who look more recognizable to a human's eyes with his smooth, poreless skin, or his large eyes with dual eyelids, or even the tail that hangs off of the back of his head.]

[ b ; refreshments! ]

[While Walker has to stay away from the ice cream, he notes with interest that some of the toppings are vegan, and just to his liking. As he adds a gummy bear to his pile of fruit, he pops it into his mouth, and his persistently pleasant expression... changes.]

Oh, my. [He raises one hand to his mouth, face pinching up.] That is -- that is far sweeter than anything I have ever tasted before! I think I may stick to my stew!

b

[thelimitdoesnotexist]

[It's strange, this alien being looked eerily alike. But it couldn't be. One he didn't seem to be talking telepathically and two he seemed far more pleasant than himself.

Though Mewtwo is hard to talk to at times, there's one thing that makes him more approachable: sweets. He's just lifting a gummy bear to his own person right this minute.]

did you not get the chance to taste this many sweets before?

Peachblossom, ota

[protects_the_small]

Snack Table

[Why in the name of all gods is there a giant horse at the snack table? No one knows, but he's sticking his nose in the bag of watercress potato chips. Those are his now, hope no one else wanted to try them.]

[23wishes]

[Well.

Aerith can't disagree.

Peachblossom belongs there, probably.

He can communicate, kind of, and he's practically smart as a person.

She supposes if someone asks, she can vouch for him.]

I don't mind you following me here, but just because we're not human doesn't mean we don't need to show manners. Don't make too much of a mess.

[Because without thumbs, some mess is just bound to happen.]

Open! (Heads up! Technically on hiatus, so I'll be a little slow.)

[danceofcurse]

The Fool.
[Van isn't really hungry, but with everyone else helping themselves to the refreshments, he would feel out of place ignoring what was provided or letting anything go to waste. Of course, much of what has been arranged on the tables is quite alien to him, and when the last of the only recognizable treats is plucked up by another attendee, Van looks to the person nearest him and asks...]

...is the pie-shaped thing any good?

[He means the pizza.]


The World.
[The young king looks nothing like a man of his station, garbed in a dull and rather plain-looking and ill-fitted golden tunic, with unkempt black hair and deep red eyes, but there is a gentleness about his expression visible even through his wariness.]

My name is Van Fanel. [He speaks his name with a certain amount of pride, the sort belonging to someone eager to own who they are.] I am, along with my brother, the last of my line and a half-human, half-draconian—a descendant of the people from Atlantis. I'm from a world called Gaea, a place where the Mystic Moon you know as Earth hangs far above in our sky, and where...the draconian people are believed by many to be cursed.

[Compared to some of the stories being told, his is rather tame. But Van feels at ease knowing he has as much of a right to sit in this circle as anyone else, and that makes it easier for him to continue.

He clears his throat, his gaze resting more on the floor than his peers.]

To be honest, I don't know very much about the people I am descended from except that they were arrogant, and in their arrogance they destroyed the city in which they lived. [That's the one commonality the Atlanteans of his world seem to have with those rumored to have once existed here, but Van doesn't say as much. He presumes those familiar with the names are also familiar with the stories.] Anyway, that is why on Gaea they are feared, and why, for most of my life, I've lived having to hide that part of who I am.

I guess I'm fortunate in that I look human enough...but like all draconians, I was born with wings—wings my mother implored me never to show our subjects.


The Wildcard.
[Choose your own tarot adventure!]

xxi

[glowsferatu]

[ "Subjects" is a curious turn of phrase, one she'll have to ask about later. Better to address what he has said first than what he hasn't yet. ]

It's unfortunate when the population is painted under the same broad strokes their rulers' folly would warrant. Especially when you've been divided from it by so many generations. I'm sure there were many draconians who were made to suffer the arrogance of their leaders far more than any who read about it in history.

[ Of course, that could be making broad assumptions about their political structure, but she still doubts that every individual resident of Atlantis contributed to its downfall. Maybe it's having grown up under tyranny, knowing how people follow only under fear for their lives.

It reminds her of Karkat, how he would have needed makeup and contacts, any possible method to hide his blood color, if they're planet survived him growing to maturity. Hiding is just as much about survival as following. ]

What sort of measures did you have to take to hide them?

open

[darkimitation]

[ food ]

[After being dropped off by Riku, Kagami arrives and goes right for the food tables. He's tasting every last thing and might even try to take some food off of your character's plate if they're not looking. He's really hungry, so he's willing to do what it takes to get his hands on food.]

[ circle ]

[Oh boy, now it was time for him to talk about himself once the others had done their part. Naturally he was hesitating to do it, considering what he was, but he's going to do it anyway.]

... So hi, I'm Kagami. Well, that's not my real name to be honest... I chose it for myself. My real name is Riku, because I'm his replica. [Oh boy, how to explain replicas. Even he fully doesn't understand it.] Um, replicas are close to clones I guess. But uh, my home is a place known as Castle Oblivion I think. Though it's actually where I was created by a man named Vexen of Organization XIII. And at first, I was just the opposite of Riku in terms of personality except I had all his abilities and powers he had at the time. Now we're... similar in a way, because I have most of his memories from that time too yet we're not the same. It's kind of hard to explain. Oh erm, I also kind of died. But that's not really important I guess. So that's it.

[He didn't say anything else and wants to hide now. He felt somewhat uncomfortable even after saying all of that, but at least now people know.]

circle

[hypnotherapy]

Ah, so that's how it is. It sounds complicated to deal with.

[ Magicman is taking this very well (and by 'very well' he just kind of shrugs it off because yeah whatever he's seen weirder). ]

If you don't mind saying so, what was the purpose of your creation?

Open

[dumbfound]

a. Snack Table

[ This is basically torture for Junseo. Sure, he wasn't exactly a vegetarian even before he became a vampire, but this spread has pizza. LOOK! Look right there, that is pizza, and while he can stare longingly at it all he wants, he knows the minute he puts it in his mouth it'll taste like he's eating someone vomit, and he'll immediately spit it out. He doesn't even have the ability to get to get to the swallowing stage of eating anymore, but it doesn't mean he doesn't miss how food used to take. He's so new to this non-human lifestyle that all the little human things he used to enjoy are still vivid memories for him.

Sure, he can lift whole cars over his head now if he wants to, but what's the point of that if he can't eat fried chicken.

He'll sigh loudly, sounding very distressed any time someone gets close and takes something off the table, even some of the casserole. ]

b. The Circle

[ He's been sitting quietly, tuning in and out as people talk, up until they point they get to him. Even then it takes him a few seconds to realize everyone's watching him and waiting for him to talk. ]

Oh. Uh... my name is Junseo, and I think I'm a vampire now?

[ Is that....?

Yeah, that's it. That's all he had to share. Where's the world stories, the culture? ... Non-existent apparently.

B

[burnseternal]

[Well, that's certainly underwhelming! Perhaps this young man simply needs a little nudging to get out of his shell.]

It is very good to meet you indeed, Junseo, and welcome! You are in good company, as you have likely discovered by now, [he says, pausing for a moment to look over at Kanaya with a warm smile before turning back to Junseo.] Did this happen to you in your own home, or were you changed during your time here?

OTA!

[gainedlove]

A: Circle

[Frisk looks a little nervous when their turn comes around, kicking their feet and holding onto the edges of the chair with a rather tight grip. Kanaya had invited them, but they still aren't entirely sure they belong here. But they straighten up and clear their throat, doing their best to not seem too out of place.]

Um, hi! I'm Frisk, an', um, I'mma monster. An' that's th' right word, humans just made it different 'cuz they're mean! ...um, I...was human before comin' here, though. But monsters are all super nice, an' they're all made'a magic and they got bullets an' stuff. Mine's like fire, 'cuz I'm a boss monster!

[* Perhaps some details of their history would be helpful.]

Oh! Um, monsters all used 'ta live underground behind th' Barrier, 'cuz there was a big war a really long time ago, an' humans all sealed them up there. But, um, I feel down in'ta there, an' I helped them all get out! An' so now I'm th' ambassador for monsters.

B: Food

[Human food still feels weird to eat in a monster's body, but it certainly doesn't stop Frisk. They've got a plate heaped up with a little bit of everything on it, but their focus right now is a soft serve cone that they have (though several attempts of trial and error) turned into a delicious looking sword. The only problem is that in trying to eat it, they're getting ice cream all over their muzzle--they're used to doing this with a much flatter face.]

C: Wildcard

[Got another idea? Hit me up by PM or over at gryphcat!]

A

[thelimitdoesnotexist]

[Mewtwo would be surprised to see Frisk here, were it not for all the other human-passing nonhumans here. Their world sounds interesting at the least. He leans over with his communicator so they can see what he's typing.]

what do you mean by magic?